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It was not until they were in a lively discussion over how much the estate should contribute to additional repairs on the church and the local school that Mary realized she had no place at all in this conversation.

Regardless of how attached she was to it, Rose Hill was not hers and probably never would be.

Needed or not, she hated this pretense of being something she was not.

Through a haze of despair, she heard Mr. Featherton say, “Very well, it shall be as you wish, my dear.”

Any other woman would probably have smiled smugly, but this was all too much.

The charade had been bad enough when he wasn’t here.

Now that he was—and worse, was acting as if he were her husband when she didn’t know if that was what she wanted—the walls seemed to close in on her, and she couldn’t breathe.

She set her serviette by her plate and rose. “Thank you, sir. Aunt Eunice, we should leave the men to their port.”

As the final course had only been served moments before, Eunice gave Mary a startled look before rising. With a growing panic, Mary left the room, not even looking to see if her aunt followed. She strode back down the corridor, across the hall, and into the drawing room before stopping .

Eunice shut the door behind them with a snap. “Mary, I have never seen you act with such intemperance. Compose yourself this instant.”

“I cannot do this.” Mary paced back and forth across the room. She wanted to rant or run away. Why could no one understand? “Now that he’s here, I can’t pretend. I cannot even look the servants in the eye.” She had to leave before the gentlemen rejoined them. “I’m sorry.”

She fled up the stairs to her chamber, yet even there she was not alone. Her maid was laying out her nightgown. “Please undress me, then you may retire.”

Mathers began unlacing Mary’s gown. “You look as if a cup of warm milk wouldn’t be amiss.”

Her temples throbbed and her throat ached. “I’m not a child anymore.”

“No one said you were, my lady, but a bit of warm milk is good for calming the nerves. You’ve had a difficult day.”

That was one way of putting it. “I just want to go to sleep.”

Once she had donned her nightgown, she climbed between the sheets. All she wanted was to fall in love as her friends had done. Why was fate conspiring against her? With any luck she’d wake up to-morrow and this would have all been a bad dream.

Kit caught a glimpse of the back of Lady Mary on the stairs. Her skirts moved rapidly upward as she fled. “That didn’t go quite as I had planned.”

“Does it ever when dealing with women?” Doust said drily, shaking his head. “You didn’t really believe she’d simply fall into your arms, did you?”

She was probably one of the few ladies who wouldn’t. Kit gave a rueful smile. “I had hoped to show her that I am a reasonable man, and by marrying me she’d be fully involved in most of my decisions. I thought it would put this situation in a better light.”

The promise of a partnership had worked for Marcus and Rutherford.

The rector was silent for a few moments. “You know what Lady Mary wants. If you do wish to marry her, you need to find out how to give her at least as much of it as you are able under the circumstances. ”

The devil! It wasn’t as if she had a choice.

For that matter, neither did he. Yet did she realize it, or did she think he was trying to trap her as well?

Kit ran a hand over his face. Subterfuge was what was needed.

He’d have Piggott talk to Mary’s lady’s maid, but first Kit would speak to her aunt.

“You are correct, of course. Lady Eunice might have some ideas.”

Kit and Doust entered the drawing room. Lady Eunice was staring into the fireplace, a glass of wine held loosely in her hand. Kit took the chair on the other side of the small table from where she sat on the sofa.

Her lips pressed together, she glanced at the two of them. “I’ve never seen her behave in such a manner before.”

Doust handed Kit a brandy, a decanter of which had miraculously appeared on the sideboard, then sat on the sofa next to Lady Eunice, as she said, “It has been a trying day.”

He took a sip, savoring the burn as it traveled down his throat. “What can I do to help?”

“I don’t know. Mary is generally a sensible woman. She wants a husband and children. Yet I very much fear she has deluded herself into thinking she has a choice about whom she will wed.”

Kit wanted nothing more than to hit something. “If you have any ideas at all as to how I can bring her around, I’d appreciate hearing them.”

Lady Eunice shook her head. “At this point, I don’t know what to do. Perhaps sleeping on the problem will help.” She set her glass down on the table and rose. “Gentlemen, I shall see you in the morning.”

He and the rector stood. “Good night.”

Doust reached out, taking her hand. “I’ll take my leave now. Walk me to the door, if you will, my lady.”

She smiled. “Gladly.”

Cursing Mary’s and his grandmothers, Kit made his way to his bedchamber.

He began engaging in what-ifs. What if they’d brought Lady Mary to Town, where he could and would have courted her?

But that wouldn’t do anyone any good now.

He’d have to deal with what he had, and she wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

“Piggott,” Kit said, opening the door, “I have a job for you.”

His valet paused in the midst of polishing Kit’s boots. “What would that be, sir? ”

“Have a talk with Lady Mary’s dresser, and find out what her ladyship’s tastes are.”

“Are you planning to court her ladyship?”

Kit drained his glass. “I am, and I must do so quickly.”

Before word got out and there was a scandal that could not be contained.